Towards the end of the Spanish civil war, several German soldiers were wounded prompted. This prompted Hitler to reinstitute an award dating back to WWI, the wound badge. The year was 1939, the design of the badge was very similar to that employed during the great war, the main difference being that the new badge sported a raised swastika on the helmet.

The "Military minute" is a series of instructional videos created by MilitaryItems.com for the purpose of providing basic information about military collectibles. The idea is to expose people to the exciting world of military collectibles. The video presentation coupled with detailed photographs and written information, including a military collectible's price guide, and anatomical breakdown of each piece enhances the visitor's experience. Whether you are a long time collector, a beginner or simply have an interest in the history and value of each collectible, we hope that you find the information presented here useful.

Consisting of an oval shape with a wreat surrounding the perimeter of the award. The main body has raised pebbling. The profile of a German helmet is placed in the center. A swastka is placed in the center of the helmet. A pair of crossed swords is located behind the helmet. The shape is stamped so it is raised in the front and sunk in the back. Markings may be found in the back of the badge. The sample shown here does not have any. It is important to note that not all the badges had markings.

The black wound badge was issued on a paper envelope.

Of metal construction with a hollowed back. very thin. A vertical pin is provided to secure the badge to the tunic of the owner. This was accomplished by putting the pin through a series of loops (two or more) that were sewn to the breast area of the jacket. The pin is hinged on one end and has a catch on the other.

The wound badge was issued in three classes: Black, silver and gold . The criteria for earning the award follows:

This page is a recognition and identification guide for WWII German badges and awards. Multiple detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out clearly defined points that should be noted.

One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my WWII German badge worth?". A price guide is included here to address this question. The value of the badges and awards is reviewed over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth of the German badges in the collector's market is illustrated.

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This award is currently being reproduced. It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because the quality of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with the construction style and materials employed in the manufacturing of this badge. Attention to the details is critical in order to be able to determine the authenticity of the badge.

Black Wound Badge	Black wound badge. Missing paint.	Black Wound Badge. Unmarked.	Black wound badge. Missing paint.